Published 6:30 am, Sunday, January 1, 2006

Vince Young says he'll be the most popular player in the storied history of Texas football with one more victory — and nobody's about to argue.

No need to go to Hollywood to see stars in Southern California on Wednesday night. Pasadena will be the place, when Leinart, Bush and No. 1 USC face Young and No. 2 Texas for the national title.

They have been the faces of college football in 2005: Leinart, the cool quarterback with the boy-band looks; Bush, the breathtaking tailback and sharp-dressed man; and Young, the dynamic dual-threat with smooth moves he flashes before and during games.

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Leinart, Bush and Young started the season as front-runners for the Heisman Trophy, and ended it as the only three players invited to New York for the presentation ceremony.

That was the last time they shared a stage. Bush won that competition and Young was crushed.

While Leinart has reached out to Young this season to give his fellow QB some friendly advice, Bush didn't show the least bit of sympathy for Young after winning the Heisman.

A little friction between the stars? How Hollywood.

Record of excellence

Bush has always been a showstopper. He finished fifth in the Heisman voting last season, despite relatively few opportunities to showcase his straight-from-the-video-game moves.

He ascended to superstar status this season, running for 1,658 yards — 8.9 per carry — and leading the nation in all-purpose yards with 217.9 per game.

"When I worked for coach (Barry) Switzer at Oklahoma," Texas coach Mack Brown said Friday, "and when we were watching film, he would say, 'There's a three-play guy and a five-play guy. If I watch a guy for five plays and I don't see whether he's good enough, turn it off.' Reggie is a one-play guy."

If Bush decides to pass up his senior season, a decision he said he'll make after the Rose Bowl, he is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.

He's already got a game named after him.

The Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers will play in the so-called Bush Bowl on Sunday. The Texans (2-13) can lock up the first pick with a loss. The 49ers (3-12) need to lose, and many of their fans are hoping for just that, and get some help to be in line to pick Bush.

"It's good to know you have fans out there recognize, I guess, your talent and they want you in their cities," said Bush, who is supremely confident behind a humble smile. "For me, that's a great feeling

Or Bush could pull a Leinart and return to USC. After winning the Heisman last season, the 6-foot-5 left-hander passed on a shot to be the No. 1 pick in the draft.

"I never think about the money, what I could do in the NFL," Leinart said. "That time will come."

On the field, he was even better as a senior, throwing for 3,450 yards and 27 touchdowns.

"When he stayed back this year it wasn't just to have fun," USC defensive end Frostee Rucker said. "It was to put his signature on his work."

On Oct. 15 at Notre Dame, he did just that. Fourth-and-9 from his own 26 with USC trailing 31-28 and 1:32 left, Leinart checked off at the line to a risky fade route when he saw Dwayne Jarrett in man-to-man coverage. Leinart's throw was perfect, just as it needed to be, and Jarrett went for 61 yards.

Moments later, Leinart spun into the end zone with the game-winning touchdown, getting some help from a Bush push.

Star of the show

The spotlight might not shine quite as brightly in Austin as it does in Los Angeles, but at least Bush and Leinart have each other to share it.

Young is the star of Texas.

It was at the last Rose Bowl that Young became a household name after running for 192 yards and four scores and leading the Longhorns to a thrilling 38-37 victory over Michigan.

Still, Young's passing was justifiably questioned coming into this season.

His answer: a 168.6 passer rating, best in the country, and 27 touchdown throws.

Blessed with talent

Young's once-fragile confidence has soared.

"I accept what God blessed me to be: a leader, a quarterback," Young said. "It comes with a lot of fame, a lot of awards, a lot of things."

The quiet kid from tough streets of Houston has blossomed into the Longhorns' leader, keeping his teammates loose as he grooves to hip-hop from his iPod during pregame warmups.

"He's a fierce competitor, but he's a little shy," Brown said.

Recently, Young was asked in a television interview who the most popular Longhorn would be if he was able to lead Texas to the school's first outright national title since 1969.